In June of 1876, on a desolate hill above the Little Bighorn River, George Armstrong Custer and the 210 soldiers with him were annihilated by almost 2,000 Sioux and Cheyenne warriors. When those higher up in the chain of command began to point fingers, Custer, who was conveniently dead, took the brunt of the blame; the truth, however, was far more complex, as James Donovan argues here. He brings to light research of recent decades that has changed significantly how this event is perceived—including details of a U.S. Army cover-up.

"In this labor of love, Donovan collects the multiple threads that led to the 1876 massacre at Little Big Horn.... The author makes a good case for Custer as scapegoat by portraying him as a likable Civil War hero, flamboyant publicity hound and more experienced Indian fighter than most of his men and all of his commanders. Exhaustive research, lively prose and fresh interpretation make for a valuable addition to literature on this otherwise well-trodden historical event."—Publishers Weekly